Legalism Exposed Series

Intro

Our text today is Romans 4:13-16:

“It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14 For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless, 15 because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression. 16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.”i

In the verses just prior to this, Paul has proven from Scripture that the ritual of circumcision is not required for salvation. His theme in this whole chapter is justification by faith alone. Abraham was not declared righteous by performing a ritual. He was justified by his faith in the promise of God.

Now Paul expands his argument to prove that justification is not received by observing the law. That would include circumcision. But it includes all the commandments in the Mosaic Law. In fact, operating with a legalistic mindset is diametrically contrary to justification by faith. Paul makes his argument: (1) In negative terms (vv. 13-15) by showing the impossibility of receiving the promise of God by keeping the law. (2) In positive terms (vv. 16) by demonstrating that justification by faith is the only way to receive the promise of God.

I. INEFFECTIVENESS OF THE LAW AS A MEANS OF OBTAINING THE PROMISE OF GOD (vv. 13-15)

Paul begins with a statement of fact from Old Testament history: “It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise. . . .” The law had not even been given when Abraham was declared righteous. He was not declared righteous because he was doing the things that the law required. He did not even have the Mosaic law in Genesis 15:6. He lived 430 years before the law was given to Moses. In our text, Paul does not mention that timing explicitly like he did in relationship to circumcision back in verse 10. But this fact is implied by Paul’s statement: “It was not through the law that Abraham . . . received the promise.” It couldn’t have been through the law because God declared Abaham 430 years prior to the law.

In Galatians 3:17, Paul not only mentions the 430 years but also insists that the subsequent law of Moses could not invalidate the promise Abraham received by faith. Galatians 3:17: “And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect.” Abraham was justified by faith alone, and the giving of the law 430 years later does not reverse that.

The Greek word translated law (nomos) can refer to the Mosaic law or it can simply refer to a set of rules demanding obedience. ii Godet and Murray think nomos is used in our text as a reference to law in general, rather than the Mosaic law specifically.iii However, the context tells us it is referring to the Mosaic law. With the discussion on circumcision dominating the previous section of this chapter and the distinction between Jews and gentiles in verses 12 and 16, the context requires us to interpret nomos in these verses as the Mosaic law.

Having said that, we can apply the principle that Paul is teaching here to all attempts to obtain righteousness before God by legalistic effort. Paul is demonstrating the inadequacy of legalism as a means of justification, and that principle is applicable to any system of law. A legalistic mindset is contrary to the faith Abraham exercised. The legalism in the Mormon and Jehovah Witness cults cannot produce salvation. The moralist will not gain salvation by being a respectable citizen. The Galatian church was ensnared in legalism even after being justified by faith.iv Legalism is a destructive influence that is deceiving millions today.

For the first time in this epistle, we encounter the word promise (epaggelia) in verse 13. The word occurs in verses 14 and 16 as well. To understand our text, we must be clear on what Paul is referring to. The word is singular, not plural. It is promise, not promises. It is preceded by the article the (‘e). So, Paul has something very specific in mind. He describes it as “the promise that he would be heir of the world.” The first part of verse 13 tells us it is to be received by “Abraham and his offspring [spermati].” We know from the previous teaching in this chapter that Abraham’s “offspring” are all those who follow in Abraham’s “footsteps of faith” (v. 12): those who believe. They, along with Abraham, will be heirs of the world (kosmos).